scholarly journals Comparative Genomics of Xanthomonas citri pv. citri A* Pathotype Reveals Three Distinct Clades with Varying Plasmid Distribution

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 1947
Author(s):  
John Webster ◽  
Daniel Bogema ◽  
Toni A. Chapman
Keyword(s):  
Virulence Factors ◽  
Heavy Metal Resistance ◽  
Metal Resistance ◽  
Secretion Systems ◽  
Xanthomonas Citri ◽  
Sequencing Technologies ◽  
Type Iv ◽  
Genetic Groups ◽  
Citrus Bacterial Canker ◽  
Genome Assemblies

Citrus bacterial canker (CBC) is an important disease of citrus cultivars worldwide that causes blister-like lesions on host plants and leads to more severe symptoms such as plant defoliation and premature fruit drop. The causative agent, Xanthomonas citri pv. citri, exists as three pathotypes—A, A*, and Aw—which differ in their host range and elicited host response. To date, comparative analyses have been hampered by the lack of closed genomes for the A* pathotype. In this study, we sequenced and assembled six CBC isolates of pathotype A* using second- and third-generation sequencing technologies to produce complete, closed assemblies. Analysis of these genomes and reference A, A*, and Aw sequences revealed genetic groups within the A* pathotype. Investigation of accessory genomes revealed virulence factors, including type IV secretion systems and heavy metal resistance genes, differentiating the genetic groups. Genomic comparisons of closed genome assemblies also provided plasmid distribution information for the three genetic groups of A*. The genomes presented here complement existing closed genomes of A and Aw pathotypes that are publicly available and open opportunities to investigate the evolution of X. citri pv. citri and the virulence factors that contribute to this serious pathogen.

Type IV secretion machinery: molecular architecture and function

2013 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vidya Chandran
Keyword(s):  
Virulence Factors ◽  
Legionella Pneumophila ◽  
Antibiotic Resistance Gene ◽  
Type Iv Secretion ◽  
Molecular Architecture ◽  
Paradigm Shifts ◽  
Secretion Systems ◽  
Membrane Pore ◽  
Type Iv ◽  
Monomeric Proteins

Bacteria have evolved several secretion machineries to bring about transport of various virulence factors, nutrients, nucleic acids and cell-surface appendages that are essential for their pathogenesis. T4S (Type IV secretion) systems are versatile secretion systems found in various Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and in few archaea. They are large multisubunit translocons secreting a diverse array of substrates varying in size and nature from monomeric proteins to nucleoprotein complexes. T4S systems have evolved from conjugation machineries and are implicated in antibiotic resistance gene transfer and transport of virulence factors in Legionella pneumophila causing Legionnaires’ disease, Brucella suis causing brucellosis and Helicobacter pylori causing gastroduodenal diseases. The best-studied are the Agrobacterium tumefaciens VirB/D4 and the Escherichia coli plasmid pKM101 T4S systems. Recent structural advances revealing the cryo-EM (electron microscopy) structure of the core translocation assembly and high-resolution structure of the outer-membrane pore of T4S systems have made paradigm shifts in the understanding of T4S systems. The present paper reviews the advances made in biochemical and structural studies and summarizes our current understanding of the molecular architecture of this mega-assembly.

scholarly journals Half a century of stable antibiotic resistance in livestock-associated Staphylococcus aureus and its dynamic readaptation to humans

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Matuszewska ◽  
Gemma G. R. Murray ◽  
Xiaoliang Ba ◽  
Rhiannon Wood ◽  
Mark A Holmes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Sccmec Type ◽  
Tetracycline Resistance ◽  
Heavy Metal Resistance ◽  
Metal Resistance ◽  
Type Iv ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Type V ◽  
Human Infections

Mobile genetic elements (MGEs) often carry genes that benefit their bacterial hosts. In methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), MGEs have been associated with antibiotic resistance, virulence, and host adaptation. Clonal-complex (CC) 398 is the dominant MRSA in European livestock, and a growing cause of human infections. To understand the risk posed by livestock-associated MRSA to human health, we have used a collection of 1,180 CC398 genomes, sampled from several livestock species and humans, with a broad geographic distribution and spanning 27 years, to reconstruct the dynamics of the MGEs. We find that the emergence of livestock-associated CC398 coincided with the acquisition of a Tn916 transposon carrying a tetracycline resistance gene, which has been stably vertically inherited for 57 years. This was followed by the acquisition of a large SCCmec type V element that carries methicillin, tetracycline and heavy metal resistance genes. This has been maintained within livestock-associated CC398 for at least 35 years, with occasional truncations and replacements with other, smaller type IV SCCmec elements. In contrast, a class of prophages that carry a human immune-evasion gene cluster, that are largely absent from livestock-associated CC398, have been repeatedly gained and lost across both human- and livestock-associated CC398. The variable dynamics of these three MGEs means that when livestock-associated MRSA infects humans, re-adaptation to the human host outpaces the loss of antibiotic resistance. Moreover, the stability of both Tn916 and SCCmec suggests that they may persist despite ongoing reductions in antibiotic and zinc oxide use in farming.

Identification of Pathogenic Variations in Seafood Vibrio parahaemolyticus Isolates by Comparing Genome Sequences

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sunyoung Park ◽  
Heeyoung Lee ◽  
Sejeong Kim ◽  
Yukyung Choi ◽  
Hyemin Oh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Virulence Factors ◽  
Reference Genome ◽  
Secretion Systems ◽  
Genome Sequences ◽  
Genomic Variations ◽  
Type Iv ◽  
Adhesion Efficiency ◽  
High Cytotoxicity ◽  
Tdh Gene

In this study, to investigate the pathogenic characteristics of the isolates, the pathogenic gene ( tdh gene) was identified, and adherence and cytotoxicity assays were performed. Furthermore, genome sequences of the seafood isolates were analyzed using the Illumina Hi-seq 2500 platform. The isolated strains were then mapped by comparing the genomes to the reference genome, and variations in the nucleotide sequences and amino acids were identified with the CLC Genomics Workbench program. As a result, the tdh gene was identified in four isolates of V. parahaemolyticus , three (SMFM201809-CPC7-3, SMFM201809-CF8-2, and SMFM201809-CF8-3) of which showed high cytotoxicity and differences in cell adhesion. Thus, they were selected to identify virulence factors and genomic variations. All three isolates had the same virulence factors, such as adherence, secretion systems, and toxin. Additionally, this study identified amino acid variants in the regions of type IV pilus, T3SS1, T3SS1 secreted effectors, and thermolabile hemolysin. These results indicate that variations in amino acids found in regions related to adherence and cytotoxicity led to differences in adhesion efficiency and cytotoxicity. Therefore, the isolates may cause more serious foodborne illness. .

Occurrence of Virulence Factors and Antibiotic and Heavy Metal Resistance in Vibrio parahaemolyticus Isolated from Pacific Mackerel at Markets in Zhejiang, China

2020 ◽  
Vol 83 (8) ◽  
pp. 1411-1419
Author(s):  
JIEHONG FANG ◽  
HUI CHENG ◽  
TING YU ◽  
HAN JIANG
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Virulence Factors ◽  
Vibrio Parahaemolyticus ◽  
Resistance Index ◽  
Heavy Metal Resistance ◽  
Metal Resistance ◽  
Resistance Testing ◽  
Multiple Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Pacific Mackerel

ABSTRACT Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a widespread bacterium in the marine environment and is one of the leading causes of food-derived bacterial poisoning in humans worldwide. The main objective of this study was to determine the prevalence, virulence factors, and antibiotic and heavy metal resistance profiles of V. parahaemolyticus in Pacific mackerel (Pneumatophorus japonicus) from different markets in Zhejiang Province, People's Republic of China. In total, 112 (31.11%) V. parahaemolyticus isolates were identified from 360 Pacific mackerel samples, with an extremely low occurrence of the virulence genes trh (1.79%, 2 of 112) and tdh (0%, 0 of 112). Antibiotic resistance testing revealed that most isolates showed resistance to ampicillin (96.43%, 108 of 112) and streptomycin (90.18%, 101 of 112), whereas all strains were sensitive to kanamycin, florfenicol, cefamandole, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Furthermore, 46.43% (52 of 112) of isolates, which had 12 different phenotypes, were classified as multidrug resistant. In addition, the multiple antibiotic resistance index values of isolates were between 0.05 and 0.63, and the maximum multiple antibiotic resistance index was attributed to two isolates that exhibited resistance to 12 antibiotics. Heavy metal resistance patterns were similar among the six different markets. The majority of isolates showed resistance to Cd2+ (78.57%) and Pb2+ (51.79%), and fewer were resistant to Cu2+ (37.50%), Zn2+ (25.00%), Co2+ (9.82%), Ni2+ (6.25%), and Mn2+ (4.46%). No isolates were resistant to Cr3+. In total, 22.32% (25 of 112) of strains were multiheavy metal resistant. Furthermore, multidrug resistance and multiheavy metal resistance were found to be positively correlated in the V. parahaemolyticus strains by using Pearson's correlation analysis (P = 0.008; R = 0.925). This information will contribute to the monitoring of variations in the antibiotic and heavy metal resistance profiles of V. parahaemolyticus strains from seafood and provide insight into the appropriate use of antibiotics and the safe consumption of seafood. HIGHLIGHTS

scholarly journals Role of Bacterial Secretion Systems and Effector Proteins – Insight into the Pathogenicity Mechanisms in Aeromonas

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanna Matys ◽  
Anna Turska-Szewczuk ◽  
Anna Sroka-Bartnicka
Keyword(s):  
Virulence Factors ◽  
Secretion System ◽  
Effector Proteins ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Target Cells ◽  
Virulence Determinants ◽  
Secretion Systems ◽  
Variable Expression ◽  
Type Iv ◽  
T3ss Effector

Gram-negative bacteria have developed several nanomachine channels known as type II, III, IV and VI secretion systems that enable export of effector proteins/toxins from the cytosol across the outer membrane to target host cells. Protein secretion systems are critical to bacterial virulence and interactions with other organisms. Aeromonas utilize various secretion machines e.g. two-step T2SS, a Sec-dependent system as well as one-step, Sec-independent T3SS and T6SS systems to transport effector proteins/toxins and virulence factors. Type III secretion system (T3SS) is considered the dominant virulence system in Aeromonas. The activity of bacterial T3SS effector proteins most often leads to disorders in signalling pathways and reorganization of the cell cytoskeleton. There are also scientific reports on the pathogenicity mechanism associated with host cell apopotosis/pyroptosis resulting from secretion of a cytotoxic enterotoxin, i.e. the Act protein, by the T2SS secretion system and an effector protein Hcp by the T6SS system. Type IV secretion system (T4SS) is the system which translocate protein substrates, protein-DNA complexes and DNA into eukaryotic or bacterial target cells. In this paper, the contribution of virulence determinants involved in the pathogenicity potential of Aeromonas is discussed. Considering that the variable expression of virulence factors has a decisive impact on the differences observed in the virulence of particular species of microorganisms, it is important to assess the correlation between bacterial pathogenicity and their virulence-associated genes.

scholarly journals Comparative Genomic Analysis of 450 Strains of Salmonella enterica Isolated from Diseased Animals

Genes ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 1025
Author(s):  
Shaohua Zhao ◽  
Cong Li ◽  
Chih-Hao Hsu ◽  
Gregory H. Tyson ◽  
Errol Strain ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Resistance Genes ◽  
Bacterial Infections ◽  
Genomic Analysis ◽  
Heavy Metal Resistance ◽  
Metal Resistance ◽  
Comparative Genomic ◽  
Salmonella Infections ◽  
Antimicrobial Resistance Genes ◽  
Salmonella Pathogenicity Islands ◽  
Shed Light

Salmonella is a leading cause of bacterial infections in animals and humans. We sequenced a collection of 450 Salmonella strains from diseased animals to better understand the genetic makeup of their virulence and resistance features. The presence of Salmonella pathogenicity islands (SPIs) varied by serotype. S. Enteritidis carried the most SPIs (n = 15), while S. Mbandaka, S. Cerro, S. Meleagridis, and S. Havana carried the least (n = 10). S. Typhimurium, S. Choleraesuis, S. I 4,5,12:i:-, and S. Enteritidis each contained the spv operon on IncFII or IncFII-IncFIB hybrid plasmids. Two S. IIIa carried a spv operon with spvD deletion on the chromosome. Twelve plasmid types including 24 hybrid plasmids were identified. IncA/C was frequently associated with S. Newport (83%) and S. Agona (100%) from bovine, whereas IncFII (100%), IncFIB (100%), and IncQ1 (94%) were seen in S. Choleraesuis from swine. IncX (100%) was detected in all S. Kentucky from chicken. A total of 60 antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs), four disinfectant resistances genes (DRGs) and 33 heavy metal resistance genes (HMRGs) were identified. The Salmonella strains from sick animals contained various SPIs, resistance genes and plasmid types based on the serotype and source of the isolates. Such complicated genomic structures shed light on the strain characteristics contributing to the severity of disease and treatment failures in Salmonella infections, including those causing illnesses in animals.

scholarly journals Heavy Metal Tolerance Trend in Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase Encoding Strains Recovered from Food Samples

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (9) ◽  
pp. 4718
Author(s):  
Kashaf Junaid ◽  
Hasan Ejaz ◽  
Iram Asim ◽  
Sonia Younas ◽  
Humaira Yasmeen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Metal Tolerance ◽  
Heavy Metal Tolerance ◽  
Heavy Metal Resistance ◽  
Metal Resistance ◽  
Food Samples ◽  
Esbl Production ◽  
Extended Spectrum ◽  
Retail Food ◽  
Esbl Producers

This study evaluates bacteriological profiles in ready-to-eat (RTE) foods and assesses antibiotic resistance, extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) production by gram-negative bacteria, and heavy metal tolerance. In total, 436 retail food samples were collected and cultured. The isolates were screened for ESBL production and molecular detection of ESBL-encoding genes. Furthermore, all isolates were evaluated for heavy metal tolerance. From 352 culture-positive samples, 406 g-negative bacteria were identified. Raw food samples were more often contaminated than refined food (84.71% vs. 76.32%). The predominant isolates were Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 76), Enterobacter cloacae (n = 58), and Escherichia coli (n = 56). Overall, the percentage of ESBL producers was higher in raw food samples, although higher occurrences of ESBL-producing E. coli (p = 0.01) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (p = 0.02) were observed in processed food samples. However, the prevalence of ESBL-producing Citrobacter freundii in raw food samples was high (p = 0.03). Among the isolates, 55% were blaCTX-M, 26% were blaSHV, and 19% were blaTEM. Notably, heavy metal resistance was highly prevalent in ESBL producers. These findings demonstrate that retail food samples are exposed to contaminants including antibiotics and heavy metals, endangering consumers.

scholarly journals Clonal Clusters, Molecular Resistance Mechanisms and Virulence Factors of Gram-Negative Bacteria Isolated from Chronic Wounds in Ghana

Antibiotics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 339
Author(s):  
Denise Dekker ◽  
Frederik Pankok ◽  
Thorsten Thye ◽  
Stefan Taudien ◽  
Kwabena Oppong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Epidemiology ◽  
Virulence Factors ◽  
Iron Uptake ◽  
Chronic Wounds ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Gram Negative Bacteria ◽  
Beta Lactamase ◽  
Secretion Systems ◽  
Gram Negative ◽  
E Coli

Wound infections are common medical problems in sub-Saharan Africa but data on the molecular epidemiology are rare. Within this study we assessed the clonal lineages, resistance genes and virulence factors of Gram-negative bacteria isolated from Ghanaian patients with chronic wounds. From a previous study, 49 Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 21 Klebsiellapneumoniae complex members and 12 Escherichia coli were subjected to whole genome sequencing. Sequence analysis indicated high clonal diversity with only nine P. aeruginosa clusters comprising two strains each and one E. coli cluster comprising three strains with high phylogenetic relationship suggesting nosocomial transmission. Acquired beta-lactamase genes were observed in some isolates next to a broad spectrum of additional genetic resistance determinants. Phenotypical expression of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase activity in the Enterobacterales was associated with blaCTX-M-15 genes, which are frequent in Ghana. Frequently recorded virulence genes comprised genes related to invasion and iron-uptake in E. coli, genes related to adherence, iron-uptake, secretion systems and antiphagocytosis in P. aeruginosa and genes related to adherence, biofilm formation, immune evasion, iron-uptake and secretion systems in K. pneumonia complex. In summary, the study provides a piece in the puzzle of the molecular epidemiology of Gram-negative bacteria in chronic wounds in rural Ghana.

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